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BANGALORE: The Central Crime Branch
police on Friday arrested three persons who allegedly
cheated 70 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) of more than Rs. 8
crore by promising them ownership and profits of service
apartments in Bangalore.
According to a press release, a group
comprising P. Muniyappa (44), Shibin Joseph (31), both
residents of Horamavu in Agara, and Jacob Mathews (47) of
Marutisevanagar and led by Joseph Chacko (48) of Kerala
advertised in some newspapers in the Gulf that they were
constructing service apartments in Bangalore. People who
invested in the project would not only get ownership of the
apartments but also other profits, the advertisement
reportedly said. Lured by the advertisements, more than 70
NRIs invested Rs. 10 lakh each in the project and the
accused persons used the money to construct Crown Plaza
International at Hennur. But the ownership was not
transferred to the investors as promised.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) B.R.
Ravikante Gowda told The Hindu that the investors
complained to the Indian Embassy in Qatar, who forwarded the
complaint to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. On directions
from the Chief Minister, the case was investigated and three
persons were arrested, Mr. Gowda said.
The main accused Joseph Chacko is
absconding, and police are on the lookout for him, he added. |
